AGARTALA, August 2 (TIWN): Had it been any other State Govt of India- by this time they would have declared a cash prize of Rs 25 Lakhs to 1 crore for bringing the rare honour of becoming the first Indian woman gymnast to clinch a Bronze Medal in Commonwealth Games. Not only that State Chief Minister would have called and congratulated a sports person of Dipa's stature at the earliest. From Telengana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, every State Government always came forward to felicitate all great sportspersons cutting across party lines and rising above narrow politics.

Tripura Govt yet to issue a press release thanking Dipa Karmakar for her achievements of making Tripura and India proud , also to declare a State Felicitation Ceremony upon her arrival in State, a matching cash reward for bringing such a rare honour, achievement of a Bronze Medal in Commonwealth Games. Yesterday TIWN journalists called Sports Minister Sahid Chowdhury but he informed Government has no such plans of public felicitation and cash rewards for Dipa Karmakar.

From Agartala local sources, news coming is  - Dipa’s family aligned to Congress Party, though not hardcore or active supporters of opposition Congress – so , that maybe reason of cold shouldering her and denying State Felicitation, Cash Prize.

Now, few months back the same State Government wasted Rs.5 Lakhs on a Rabindranath Tagore’s Statue front of newly built Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhabvan, which had to be removed later due to multiple faults and criticisms, then State Government spent judiciously(?) another Rs. 40 to 50 Lakhs on Rabindra Bhavan’s inauguration week long programme and wasted State’s money on outside Artists, Singers, Dance Troupes. Point is even though State and its Leaders like to preach poorness and lack of fundings but if they wish , certainly they can host and spend on a Gala Scale.

If  Tripura Govt doesn’t do a proper felicitation of Dipa, doesn’t declare a matching cash prize  - it will be a shame for State that it lost a golden opportunity to felicitate such a great Athlete who is pride of whole India.

Now the good news is Athletes of Dipa Karmamkar’s Stature – they may not need Tripura Govt’s  felicitation or no-felicitation – upon the arrival of Commonwealth Sports Teamto India, President Pranab Mukherjee will felicitate all medal winners, followed by West Bengal which already started calling Dipa as Bengal’s daughter , Mamata Banerjee will be meeting Dipa Karmakar within a week or two.

From TRIPURAINFOWAY, we would request Tripura Government to issue a Press release congratulating Dipa Karmakar, a date and venue of Public Felicitation programme, a matching cash prize at the earliest as millions of Tripura people raising this question in news and social media that why Government is so silent on Dipa Karmamkar’s achievements ?

Dipa Karmakar's video from Commonwealth Games, Glasgow (coursey BBC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkdDizUJCYc

Dipa Karmakar at Glasow before running for the hardest 2nd Vault at Commonwealth Games